Mission Family: Free online resources for school year

Aug. 29, 2014 - 11:33AM
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While you’re getting back into school routines for your children, and perhaps even for yourself, consider some of the free resources the Defense Department provides that can help you with research — and even free tutoring and homework help.

In fact, such resources go far beyond school work. You can get help with genealogical quests, military research, and how-to information on fixing your car or doing home repairs, to name a few.

The DoD MWR online library resources are available at no cost to service members and their families. There are so many types of free resources available that it just makes sense to check out this treasure trove now so you’ll know what’s there when you need it. Some of the resources may require you to register and create your own account, but they’re still free.

To see the complete list and gain access to the online library offerings, visit www.militaryonesource.mil. Click on “Military Life Topics,” then “Morale, Welfare and Recreation,” then “DoD MWR Library Resources,” currently on the bottom right side.

■ Expanded Academic ASAP: research across all academic disciplines from microbiology to history.

■ Military Intelligence Database: more than 500 journals, articles, books and magazines relevant to the military.

■ InfoTrac Junior Edition: database of more than 330 periodicals aimed at students in middle school.

■ Kids InfoBits: Geography, science, sports, government, the arts, history and more for kids in kindergarten through fifth grades.

■ HeritageQuest Online: original documents from the U.S. Federal Census covering more than 140 million names, genealogy and history books, Revolutionary War records, Freedman’s Bank Records, LexisNexis U.S. Serial Set, periodical source index.

Free tutoring

DoD also provides tutoring and homework help at no cost to military families through tutor.com/military. Eligible students in Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Guard, reserve and wounded warrior families can get help 24/7 from expert tutors in more than 40 subjects. Those in grades K-12 can get help with subjects like algebra, chemistry, calculus and physics and SAT prep. Eligible military adult learners can get back-to-school, college and career transition help. The free help is provided through funding from the DoD MWR Library Program, the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program and the Navy General Library Program.

The tutors are experts in their subjects and are screened, with background checks. They work one-on-one with students in a secure online classroom in tutoring sessions, with no personal information shared.

One example of those using this service is deployed parents whose children need help with their homework.

DoD funds these resources to make your life easier — so make use of them!